Sheet folding mechanism



April12,l93&

A. J. HORTON SHEET FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 26, 1936 -INVENTOR. Wm

m mwm Patented Apr. 12, 1938 2,114,124 SHEET FOLDING MECHANISM Albert J.Horton,

It. Hoe & 00., Inc., ration of New York White Plains, N. Y., assignor toNew York, N. Y., a corpo- Applioation September 26, 1936, Serial No.102,694

1'7 Claims.

This invention relates to folding mechanisms for folding the productsfrom printing machines, and more particularly to the provision of meansin a folding mechanism whereby the folding of 5 products will be moreefficiently and conveniently accomplished.

This invention is particularly applicable to rotary folding mechanisms,wherein cooperating cylinders are rotated together and products of theprinting machines are collected either singly or in groups and folded toform a signature, booklet or the like. Considerable diflioulty andinconvenience has been experienced in the use of folding mechanisms ofthis type, by the free edges of the grouped products flapping andfolding over upon each other and themselves, forming what is termeddog-ears at corners of the folded product, due principally to the effectof the high speed at which printing machines are now operated.

In such folding products are generally directed from the collectingcylinder into the bite of a pair of cooperating folding rollers by afolding blade carried by the cylinder, adapted toengage the collectedproducts intermediate their ends. These ends, while being rapidly fedtoward and by the rollers, are free to flap, and in many instancesabruptly whip or snap over from a substantially horizontal, oppositelydirected position, to a vertically and closely adjacent one. This actioncauses the above mentioned difliculty.

If the approaching movement of these oppositely directed ends iscontrolled and, as they more closely approach each other, they are actedupon by a stream or streams of air properly directed, the abovementioned difficulties will be avoided and the ends will smoothly feedinto and pass between the rollers without becoming folded over uponthemselves or otherwise distorted.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved product foldingmechanism for a printing or like machine.

Another object is to provide in a folding mechanism means to control thefree ends of products as they are being folded from a collectingcylinder to prevent the folding over of these ends and the formation ofso-called dog-ears.

Still another object is to provide in a folding mechanism of the abovenature, means in association with the folding rollers to free ends ofthe products as they are being folded from a collecting cylinder andsubstantially pre- 55 vent any whipping or flapping thereof, and toinsure smooth feeding into, and the folding rollers A further object isto provi passage between,

of the mechanism.

de in a product folding mechanism for a printing machine, provision inassociation with the folding off rollers to direct a stream or streamsof air, or the like,

against the free end corners of the products being folded and, inaddition to this provision,

to time the period of flow of the air to permit it only at desiredintervals during the period products are passing by the-rollers.

It is also an object of this invention to provide,

of improved cona product folding mechanism struction, and which will beconvenient,

serviceable and efficient in use.

between and being folded practical,

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

which will appear as invention resides in the description proceeds, thethe combination and arrangement of parts, and in the details ofconstruction. hereinafter described and claimed.

The preferred embodiment of illustrated in the accompanying in theinvention is drawing, where- Figure 1 is a partial end view of .aportion of a folding mechanism showing the essential features of thisinvention applied thereto, other parts being omitted and V Figure 2 is aview and looking in the Figure l, certain for .the sake of clearness;

along the line indicated by, direction of the arrow 2 in parts being insection for a better understanding of the structure thereof.

The folding mechanism illustrated in the drawing will be understood tobe a part of a printing machine and to which printed products orsheetsare transmitted for collection and folding from the printing mechanismof also be understood that cooperate by the operation of w the cylindersH and I2 ell known means provided thereon, to receive printed productsfrom the machine and collect them,

into groups upon the cylinder cooperation of a tucking or with a pair ofrotating rollers. these products transversely.

if required, l2, and that the folding blade l3,

Hi and I5, fold It will be further understood that all operative partsof the printing machine and of the folding mechanism shown are, as isusual, driven in synchronism, preferably by gears or chains, one

and in the above drawing,

from the other,

driving connections have been indicated between some of the parts by dotand dash circles representing gears with their teeth omitted for thesake of clearness in representing other parts.

In this instance, the cylinders H and [2 are assumed to be driven in theusual manner by intermeshing gears secured to their respective shafts,one of which is driven by a driving part of the machine. A gear,indicated at H5, is driven from the gear (not shown) secured on a shaftl l of the cylinder l2 and drives the rollers l4 and I5 through gears,indicated at l8, l9, 2|, 22 and 23, the gears 22 and 23 beingrespectively mounted on shafts 24 and 25 of the rollers I 4 and I5,respectively, and the gears l9 and 2! being rotatably mounted on shafts26 and 21 respectively, gear l8 drivingly connecting gears 16 and I9.

carried by the sheet collecting cylinder l2. Product guiding fingers 3|and 32 are provided to guide the folded products toward and betweencooperating feeding rollers 33 and 34. The fingers 3| and 32 aredisposed in circumferential grooves 35 formed in the respective rollersl4 and I5 and engage the folded products as they emerge from betweenthese rollers and prevent them adhering thereto and being carried aroundthe same.

The rollers I l and I5 are usually of sufiicient length to receive andfold a plurality of products disposed end to end, but for the purpose ofthis invention, only one end of these rollers is shown (see Figure 2).Near each end of each of the rollers M and I5, a short length is reducedin diameter to form a seat 31 for a split sleeve 38 which forms part ofthe roller and which is preferably slightly less in diameter than theother portions of the respective rollers I 4 or IE. Herein the separateportions of the split sleeves 38 are shown secured together by clampscrews 39 whereby the sleeves are firmly clamped upon the seat 37! andmay be adjusted circumferentially thereabout. As illustrated in Figure2, each end of the product is engaged for folding by a short length H ofeach roller at each products usually flap and form dog-ears.

To prevent the above noted tendency for the dog-ears, the split sleevesgroove 43 which forms a chamber extending peripherally about the bearing3?. The port-or ports 42 are angularly disposed in respect to the axisof the sleeve and extend from the chamber 43 to an end peripheral edgeof the respective sleeve whereby air supplied under pressure to thechamber 43, in any suitable manner, will be directed against oppositesides of steady them as they approach each other to pass between therollers M and I5, thereby preventing them whipping, flapping orotherwise tending to form dog-ears. The ports 42 are disposed relativelyto the free end edges of the products by circumferential adjustment ofthe sleeves 38 about the bearing 37 soas to be in operative positionwhen the loose free edges of the product are about to pass between therollers l4 and I5 and, due to the timing action of the intermeshingdriving gears above described, act upon each succeeding product orplurality thereof tucked between these rollers by the blade l3 from thecylinder [2.

Various means may be employed to supply air to the chamber 43 andpreferably to supply the same only at the interval the port or ports 42are in operative position to direct it against the product end. Onemethod of supplying air to the chamber 43 is herein shown as comprisingan inlet port 44 in connection with the chamber 43 and extending to theperiphery of the sleeve 38 and a nozzle 45 adapted to closely fit theperiphery of the sleeve 38 and having an outlet part 46 which flaresperipherally about the sleeve to allow air to pass therefrom into theport 44, as the sleeve rotates relatively to the nozzle 45, slightlybefore and during the comparatively short interval the product ends arepassing into the bite of the rollers M and I5. The nozzle 45 is shownsupported upon a bracket 41 extending between side frames 38 of themachine and whereby the nozzle will be retained stationary with respectto the rotation of the rollers l4 and i5 and the sleeve 38. A supplypipe 69, fastened to the bracket 4! by a clamp 5|, is connected to thenozzle 45 and by connection with a source of air supply (not shown)supplies air thereto.

Obviously, if desired the rollers l4 and I5 may be provided with hollowshafts through which air may be led to the sleeves, suitable rotaryconnections being provided to conduct the air to the shafts, and allowit to be discharged at the proper times.

As above described, provision is herein disclosed constituted by thestructure whereby a stream or streams of air may be directed againstopposite sides of the loose free product ends to prevent the formationof dog-ears as the products are being folded. By the use of themechanism disclosed herein, smooth feeding into, and passage between,folding rollers of a high speed folding mechanism, is insured.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributesthereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment beconsidered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and itwill be further understood that each and every novel feature andcombination present in or possessed by the mechanism herein disclosedforms a part of the invention included in this application.

What I claim is:

1. In a folding mechanism for a printing machine, a cylinder from whichsheet-like products are directed, a pair of cooperating rotatablefolding rollers to and between which the sheetinto the bite of therollers.

2. In a folding mechanism chine, a cylinder from which are directed, a

for a printing masheet-like products means to direct a stream of aironly against opposite side edges of the product ends as they pass intothe bite of the cooperating rollers, and means arranged to connect saidair directing means to a source of compressed air and to control theflow of air being directed by said directing means in timed relationwith the movement of the product.

i. In a mechanism adapted to fold sheet-like products forwarded by aproduct collecting cylinder of a printing machine, a pair of foldingrollers cooperating to fold the sheet-like products, and means to directair only against the ends of the folding product as they approach aposition adjacent to and in advance of said rollers, to prevent thetrailing end edges of the product folding over upon themselves.

5. In a mechanism adapted to fold sheet-like products forwarded by aproduct collecting cylinder of a printing machine, a pair of foldingrollers cooperating to fold the sheet-like products, means to direct aironly against a side edge of the folding product adjacent to the productends and to and in advance of said rollers to prevent the trailing edgesof the product folding over upon themselves, and means to time theinterval of flow of air through said directing means.

6. In a mechanism adapted to fold products forwarded by a productcollecting cylinder of a printing machine, a pair of rotatablecooperating folding rollers, one having a portion reduced in diameterspaced from an end thereof, a sleeve member mounted on said portion forcircumferential adjustment thereon and having an outlet port at itsperiphery, and means to connect the outlet port in said sleeve with asource of air under pressure.

'7. In a mechanism adapted to fold products forwarded by a productcollecting cylinder of a printing machine, a pair of rotatingcooperating folding rollers, each having a portion reduced in diameterspaced from each end thereof, a sleeve member on each of said portions,means to secure said sleeves to said portions for circumferentialadjustment thereabout, each of said sleeves having an outlet port at itsperiphery, and means to connect the outlet port in said sleeve with asource of air under pressure.

8. In a mechanism adapted to fold products forwarded by a productcollecting cylinder of a printing machine, a pair of rotatingcooperating folding rollers, each having a portion reduced in diameterspaced from each end thereof, a sleeve member mounted on each of saidportions for circumferential adjustment thereon, and having an outletport at its periphery, and means to connect the outlet port to a sourceof compressed air, and being arranged to control the admission of theair to the outlet port in timed relation to the rotation of saidrollers.

9. In a mechanism adapted to fold products from a printing machine, apair of rotatable cooperating rollers, each having a portion reduced indiameter spaced from each end thereof, a

sleeve member secured on each of said portions and having an outlet portat its periphery, the outlet in each of said sleeves being angularlydirected toward the end of the respective associated roller.

10. In a mechanism adapted to fold products from a printing machine, apair of rotatable cooperating rollers, each having a portion reduced indiameter spaced from each end thereof, a sleeve member secured on eachof said portions and having an outlet port at its periphery, the

outlet port in each of said sleeves being angularly directed toward theend of the respective associated roller, and means to connect the outletport with a source of air under pressure.

11. In a mechanism adapted to fold products from a printing machine, apair of rotatable cooperating rollers, each having a portion reduced indiameter spaced from each end thereof, a sleeve member secured on eachof said portions and having an outlet port at its periphery, the outletport in each of said sleeves being angularly directed toward the end ofthe respective associated roller, means to connect the outlet port insaid sleeve with a source of air under pressure, and means to controlthe admission of air to the outlet port in timed relation with therotation of the rollers.

12. In a mechanism adapted to fold products forwarded by a productprinting machine, a pair of rotatable cooperating folding rollers, eachhaving a portion reduced in diameter spaced from an end thereof, asleeve member on each of said portions, means to secure said sleeves tosaid portions for circumferential adjustment thereabout, each of saidsleeves having an outlet port at its periphery, the outlet port in eachsleeve being angularly directed toward the end of the respectiveassociated roller.

13. In a mechanism adapted to fold products forwarded by a productcollecting cylinder of a printing machine, a pair of cooperating foldingrollers, each having a portion reduced in diameter spaced from an endthereof, a sleeve member having an annular internal recess formedtherein, and an outlet port connecting said recess to the periphery ofsaid sleeve and being angularly directed toward the end of said roller,and means to connect said recess to a source of air under pressure.

14. In a mechanism adapted to fold sheet-like products out from a Web ofpaper, a pair of rollers between which the products pass, a ductadjacent an end of one of said rollers and having an outlet arranged todirect a stream of air only against a corner of the product while theproduct is passing between the rollers, and means through which airunder pressure may be supplied to the duct.

15. In a sheet folding mechanism, a member from which sheets aredirected, a pair of rotatable sheet folding rollers to and between whichthe sheets are received from said member, and means to direct streams ofair angularly toward and against corners of the sheets as they pass fromthe member to the rollers.

16. In mechanism adapted to fold sheets cut from a web, a pair ofrollers between which the sheets pass, a duct in the end of at least oneof the rollers and having an angularly directed outlet arranged todirect a stream of air against a corner of one of the sheets as theymove toward and between the rollers, and means to supply compressed airto the duct as the corner of the said sheet is adjacent the rollers.

1'7. In a sheet folding mechanism, a pair of cooperating rotatablerollers adapted to receive sheets therebetween and fold them, each ofsaid rollers having an angularly disposed air outlet to direct air fromthe periphery and toward an end of the roller against a corner of asheet being folded thereby, and means to supply air under pressure tosaid outlets.

ALBERT J. HORTON.

collecting cylinder of a

